KABUL (SW): Among other sectors, the relative peace of the past decade or so has also strengthened media in Afghanistan hence creating opportunity for women as well to play their part in it.
The debate however, has become more intense about whether women are given the due respect as professional media persons or are they just ‘used as showpiece’, as some argue.
It is said that a number of TV networks have only managed to attract legions of viewers thanks to the good-looking female anchors they have hired.
Sayeda Muzhgan, one of the deputies at the Ministry of Culture and Information (MoCI), told journalists here on Saturday that women’s presence in the media is more of a symbolic nature only.
Speaking at a seminar on “Women in Media, Opportunities and Challenges”, she pointed out a number of challenges faced by women media professionals in Afghanistan.
She also blamed that a number of female staffers just seek to attract more viewers by their beautiful faces and fancy make-up, which is unacceptable.
She said that despite all this, women’s roles should never be overlooked and women should be allowed to have at least 30 percent jobs in the private and public sector.
Mujib Khalwatgar, head of NAI-Supporting Open Media Institution, said that having beautiful and presentable faces could end up well in a media organization but it doesn’t necessarily mean to put down all the achievements of a media to gorgeous female staff.
ENDS
